Baby carriage



6, 1955 2 Sheets-Shed 1 Mam LIA Evil 4 Samuel (30% t .T/zeifA ziorne sN. J. KROLL El" AL BABY CARRIAGE Filed Dec.

Nov. 13, 1934. 1

NOV. 13, 1934. J, KRQLL r AL 1,980,211

BABY CARRIAGE Filed Dec. 6. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 maze dKFOZZ.

fizz/67260715 Patented Nov. 13, I934 UNITED STATES PATENTGFFFCE BABYCARRIAGE Nathan J Kroll and Samuel Kroll, Chicago, 111. ApplicationDecember 6, 1933, Serial No. 701,128 4 Claims- (Cl. 280-29) Thisinvention relates to baby carriages.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved baby carriagewhich is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efiicientin use.

Another object of this invention is: to provide a baby carriage, coachor like vehicle, which is so constructed that the body of the carriagewill be kept in a level or horizontal position at all times and hencewill not cause the occupant of the carriage to shift or slide forwardlytherein, and consequently will not disturb or awaken the child occupyingthe carriage, as happens with the conventional prior art carriages,especially when the latter are lifted to mount a curb or otherobstruction in the path of the carriage. This is an important feature ofthe present invention because it assures the childs rest and the motherspeace of mind.

, Other objects of the invention are: to provide a baby carriage whichcan readily be liftedup over a curb or other obstruction with a minimumexpenditure of time and effort; toconstructthe carriage in such a waythat its front end can be pivoted up over a curb or other obstructionand its rear end lifted simultaneously therewith by the operator throughthe act of pressing down on a foot lever; to construct the carriage insuch a way that side sway of its body, relative to its frame or chassis,is prevented; to provide, in combination with the pivoted frame, abraking mechanism for the front and rear wheels of the carriage; toequip the carriage with anti-tipping means for preventing it fromtipping rearwardly; to construct said anti tipping means asa part of thelifting means; and to provide the baby carriage hereinafter describedand claimed.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and therein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a carriage embodying the inventionand illustrating how the lifting mechanism of the carriage ismanipulated to raise the carriage up over acurb or other obstruction,and how, at the same time, the antitipping device is brought into play;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on line 2? "2 in Fig. 1, showing the arrangementof the wheel bearing frame or chassis, and the lifting means, andanti-tipping device, relative to each other;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 3-3 in Fig. 2illustrating certain parts of the lifting means and means for latchinthe same in raised or inefiective position;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on line scribed more fully 4-4in Fig. 2 illustrating the operation of the combination lifting andanti-tipping device; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 5-.5 in Fig. 2illustrating the construction of the anti-side sway device which isembodied in the invention.

A baby carriage or coach, embodying a preferred form of the presentinvention, is illustrated in the drawings and is generally indicatedtherein at 10; said carriage comprising a wheelhearing frame or chassis,generally indicated at 11; and a body 12 carried thereby and having atits rear end a handle or handle bars 13.

Attached to the front axle 14, as at 15, are flat springs 16 to whichthe body 12 is attached, as at 17, so that the body 12 of the carriageis suspended from the springs 16. Pivotally attached to the rear axle18, as at 19, (Fig. 3), are releasable latching means in the form ofdogs or pawls 20, each of which has a latching portion 21. These latchportions 21 engage the springs 18 adjacent the rear axle 18 (Figs. 2 and3), and hold the combination lifting and anti-tipping device inineffective position, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Each of the latch members 20 has an arm 22 (Fig. 3) which cams againstan arm 23 of a U- shaped combination lifting and anti-tipping member,generally indicated at 24 (Fig. 2). This lJ-shaped member 24 has a crossarm 25 (Fig. '2) 5 which projects rearwardly of the body 12 of thecarriage. When in lowered position this member 24 functions as ananti-tipping device and when in raised position itacts asv a footoperated lever for releasing the latch members 28 from latching 9engagement with the flat springs 16 so that the front end of thecarriage can be pivoted upwardly to clear an obstruction, To this endeach of the arms 23 of the U-shaped member 24 is pivotally attached, asat 26, to a horizontal rod 2'7. These rods 2'7 form part of the liftingmeans, tobe dehereinafter, and they extend substantially parallel to thehorizontal portions of the springs 16 and are pivotally attached attheir front ends to the springs 16, just to the rear of the front axle14 as at 28 (Fig. 2), so as to be capable of pivoted movement relativeto the frame or chassis ll. The'rods 27 at their rear ends project belowthe rear axle 18 (Figs. 2 and 3) and are rigidly attached thereto, as at29.

Having its end portions projecting under the springs 16 and extendingacross the rear axle 18 parallel to and above the latter so as to bearthereon, is a flat spring 30 which is kept under a slight compression bythe engagement of the latch 1m engagement with the springs 16 (Fig. 3).

. tions of which bear or cam upwardly against the latch members 26 (Fig.2) and tend to rotate the latch members 20 (clockwise, Fig.3) so as tourge the latch members 20 into latching engagement with the springs 16.i

A supporting truss rod 32 is arranged below the rear axle 18; this trussrod 32 being attached at its midportion to the rear axle 13, as at 33,and hav ing its outer end portions attached to the rods 27 as at 33(Fig.3).

The several parts of the new baby carriage coach or like vehicle 10 arenormally in the lower or full line position of Fig. 1, and in thisposition of the parts the spring 31, being under a slight compressionurges the latch members 20 into This action of the spring 31 upon thelatch members 20 exerts a bearing reaction upon the U-shapedanti-tipping and operating member 24, and thereby holds the member 24 inthe raised or full line position of Figs. 1 and 4; thisbearing reactionof the spring 31 upon the latch members 20 acting through the arms 22 ofthe latch members 20 to prevent the arms 23 of the member 24 frompivoting downwardly (Fig. 4) and thus tending to keepthe cross arm 25 ofmember 24 in raised position.

' When the baby carriage 10 encounters a. curb, or other obstruction,the mother or other operator of the vehicle holds the body 12 of thevehicle in a substantially horizontal position, through the medium ofthe handle 13, of the vehicle and at the same timeshe presses her footdown against the cross arm 25 of the lifting and anti-tipping member-24(as indicated in Fig. 1), thereby pivot ing the arms 23 of member 24 at26 (clockwise, Fig. 4) upwardly into engagement with the arms 22 of thelatch members 20. During this movement the arms 23 of the member 24first engage the arms 22 of the latch members 20 and pivot the latterout of engagement with the springs 16 (Fig. 3), after which furthermovement of the member 24 causes its arms 23' to engage under the rearaxle 18 whereupon the rods 27 and themember 24 move as one unit (intodotted line position, Fig. 4). Thus the front end of the carriage ispivoted upwardly to clear an obstruction and at'the same time the crossarm '25 of member 24 is pivoted downwardly. i i

This member 24 is so shaped that in its normal or raised position it isfree to engage the ground or other surface'upon Which the carriage isdisposed and prevent the same from tipping over backwardly, should thecarriage for any reason, tend so to do.

Simultaneously with this upward movement of the front end of thecarriage and downward movement of the member 24, the operator moves thebody of the carriage forwardly on a level,

that is in a horizontal plane, whereupon the rear wheels of the carriageclimb and thus the carriage clears the obstruction. The aforementionedoperation elevates the front wheels and front end of the vehicle up overthe curb or other obstruction and at the same time elevates the rearwheels and rear end of the carriage so that the occupant of the carriagebody 12 will not shift or gravitate toward the rear of the vehicleduring the opera- (Figl 1) for device for preventing the carriage body12 from tipping over. The chain 34 also acts as a safety device toprevent the carriage body 12 from tipping over should the operator ofthe'carriage "accidentally release the latch members 20.

After the carriage has cleared the obstruction, the weight of thecarriage body 12 compresses the spring and automatically reengages thelatch members 20 with the springs 16. It may be said here that thespring 30 limits the extent to which the springs 16 may be flexedupwardly during the carriage lifting operation so that the springs 16may be readily reengaged with the latch members 20 by a slight downwardmovement of the carriage body 12 and this reengagement of the latchmembers 20, being automatic in its operation, does not require theattention of theoperator of the carriage.

' To prevent side sway of the body 12 of the carriage an anti-side swaydevice (Fig. 5) is associated with each of the springs 16 and rods 27.Each of these devices comprises a member 35 which is attached at itsupper'end to the corresponding spring 16 just forwardly of the rear axle18, as at 36 (Figs. 2 and 5). These members 35 depend from the springs36 inside the rods 27 and abut the latter to prevent side sway of thebody of the carriage, relative to the chassis 11.

mechanism, generally indicated at 37 in the drawing, and including arock shaft 38. The inner 'end of the rock shaft'38 is mounted in abracket 39 that is' attached to the flat spring 30 and the outer end ofthe rock shaft 39 is mounted in a bracket 40 that is attached to one ofthe springs 16 (Fig. 2). 'Pivotally attached at its lowerend'tothe-outer end of'the rock shaft 38 is a brake "operating lever 41 whichprojects upwardly 'at the rear of the vehicle manipulation by thevehicle *operator.

Formed on the inner end of the rock shaft 38 is a crank arm 42 andpivotally attached is a slide rod 43. Attached to the front end of the.slide rod. 43 is a brake rod 44Whi0h slid 16 on the top thereof (Fig.4).

to the crank arm 42 below the rock shaft 38 To operate the brakingmechanism 37 the operator of the vehicle pulls upwardly on the brakecontrol and operating lever 41 (Fig. 1). This rocks the shaft 38(clockwise as seen looking from the top to bottom of the sheet in Fig.2)

and this motion of the rock shaft 38 slides the rod 43 and the brake rod44 attached thereto toward the front of the vehicle (to the left Fig. 2)causing the brake rod 44 to-engage the front wheels of the, carriage 10;while at the same time this motion of the rock shaft 38 slides the rod45 and the brake rod 46 toward therear of the vehicle, (to the left Fig.2) thus moving the brake rod 46 into braking engagement with the rearwheels of the vehicle. To release the brake rods 44 and 46 from brakingengagement with the wheels of the vehicle the operator reverses theaforementioned movements by pushing down on the brake control lever 41.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

l. A baby carriage, comprising the combination of: a frame and a bodysupported thereby; means for pivotally lifting one end of the carriagerelative to the other end thereof; said lifting means includinghorizontally extending members having attachment at their rear ends tothe rear axle of the vehicle and being pivotally suspended at theirfront ends from said frame;

latch members pivotally mounted on the said rear axle of the vehicle andhaving portions latchingly engageable with said frame; a resilientmember carried by said rear axle normally urging the said portions ofsaid latch members into latching engagement with said frame; afootoperated member pivotally mounted upon said horizontally extendingmembers at the rear thereof and having bearing engagement at its innerends under said latch members and tending to pivot the said portions ofthe latter out of latching engagement with said frame; said latchmembers normally latching said foot-operated member in raised position.

2. A baby carriage, comprising the combination of: a frame and a bodysupported thereby; means for pivotally lifting one end of the carriagerelative to the other end thereof; said lifting means includinghorizontally extending members having attachment at their rear ends tothe rear axle of the vehicle and being pivotally suspended at theirfront ends from saidframe; and a foot-operated member having parallelarms pivotally mounted between their ends upon said horizontallyextending members and including a carriage;

cross arm extending between said arms and pro-' jecting rearwardly ofthe frame and body of the carriage, and latch members carried by therear axle of the carriage for latching the said arms in raised position;said arms having a bearing engagement at their inner ends under saidlatch members.

3. A baby carriage, comprising the combination of: a frame and a bodysupported thereby; means for pivotally lifting one end of the carriagerelative to the other end thereof; said lifting means includinghorizontally extending members having attachment at their rear ends tothe rear axle of the vehicle and being pivotally suspended at theirfront ends from said frame; and a footoperated member having parallelarms pivotally mounted between their ends upon said horizontallyextending members and including a cross arm extending between said armsand projecting rearwardly of carriage; and latch members pivotallymounted on the rear axle of the carriage for latching the said arms inraised position; said arms having a bearing engagement at their innerendsunder said latch members; and said foot-operated member beingadapted to prevent rearward tipping of the carriage during normaloperation thereof.

4. A baby carriage, comprising the combination of: a frame and a bodysupported thereby; means for pivotally lifting one end of the carriagerelative to the other end thereof; said lifting means includinghorizontally extending members having attachment at their rear ends tothe rear axle of the vehicle and being pivotally suspended at theirfront ends from said frame and a footoperated member having parallelarms pivotally mounted between their ends upon said horizontallyextending member and including a cross arm extending between said armsand prov jecting rearwardly of the frame and body of the and latchmembers pivotally mounted on the rear axle of the vehicle for latchingsaid arms inraised position; said arms having a bearing engagement attheir inner ends under said latch members; said latch members beingreleasable from latching engagement with said frame by movement of saidfoot-operated member into lowered position.

NATHAN J. KROLL.

SAMUEL KROLL.

the frame and body of the

